It was a day for honor, remembrance and celebration Dec. 6 at Fife High School. While the Trojan boys basketball team would be hosting the Bonney Lake Panthers, it was the halftime business that brought out even more spectators to the Fife gym.
In honor of legendary coach and superintendant John McCrossin, the Fife gymnasium has been renamed “John McCrossin Court.” Extra kudos should be given to the Fife administration for moving so quickly on the decision and keeping it fresh and current since McCrossin passed away. One of the highlights of the event was the special appearance by McCrossin’s 1987 Fife boys basketball team that finished 22-6 and took third place at the state tournament that season.
In addition, the Western Washington Basketball Officials Association has created the John McCrossin Rookie of the Year award, which will be given out each year to one of the WWBOA’s new officials. The award comes with a scholarship for that official to attend an official’s camp. A perpetual plaque will reside at Fife High School.
Meanwhile, there was a great basketball game surrounding the festivities.
Fife and Bonney Lake put on a defensive clinic for much of the game. At the end of the first quarter, Fife led the Panthers 12-8, however the Trojans would only muster four points in the second quarter as Bonney Lake caught-up and passed Fife to take a 21-16 lead into halftime. Fife’s Jackson Cooley got connected on a jumper just as the buzzer sounded and the officials waived it off.
The third quarter was a slugfest with both teams barely giving an inch. Fife’s 6-5 senior center, Jephthah Donkor, would score eight points in the quarter and helped Fife trim the lead to two points shortly before time expired. Junior forward Kyle Mozzone got off a 22-foot three-pointer before the buzzer that banked in and gave Fife a 29-28 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Bonney Lake would retake the lead at the beginning of the fourth stanza off of a three-pointer by J.C. Herd, but that would be the end of the line for the Panthers. Fife would go on to outscore Bonney Lake 15-5 to end the game for a 44-36 victory. Donkor scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second-half. Mozzone added 10 points and was strong in the paint.
The win pushed Fife to 4-0 to open the season. Just before going to press, the Trojans next contest saw them fall to a tough River Ridge squad 57-38.
BELLARMINE – 73, WILSON – 55
It was to be an early-season matchup of two of the top teams from the 2013-14 basketball season. Wilson’s Lady Rams finished a successful campaign with a fifth-place showing at the previous 3A state tournament and Bellarmine just missed-out on making the 4A state tournament.
The non-league matchup was fiercely contested. It was clear that both teams really wanted the victory and the high-energy and oft-times hectic pace turned the game into a foul extravaganza.
At the end of the first quarter, Bellarmine held a slim 11-9 lead as Wilson shadowed the Lions’ every move. The second quarter was much the same as the Lady Rams fought tooth-and-nail to keep even with Bellarmine as the Lions would take a 26-22 lead into the half. Wilson’s All-City point guard Josie Matz left the game in the middle of the second quarter with an ankle injury and would not return to play until the waning moments of the third quarter.
Wilson would miss the leadership of Matz and it cost them in the third quarter. Bellarmine would outscore the Lady Rams 20-14 and took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter. Both teams had several players foul out in the fourth quarter as Bellarmine extended its lead. The Lady Rams finally had no answer for the height of Bellarmine closed out the game with a less-than convincing 70-55 victory.
Both teams combined for a staggering 51 personal fouls.
Bellarmine was led by Claire Martin’s 17 points, while McKenzie Alton added 16. Wilson was led by Kapri Morrow’s 21 points, followed by Kiara McMillan’s 10.